NEW YORK: In an astonishing debut, Steven Matz became the only major league pitcher to drive in four runs in his first career game while leading the New York Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
Pitching about 50 miles from home with a huge cheering section on hand, Matz (1-0) got three hits in rejuvenating an anemic offense and helping the Mets to a three-game sweep. He was awfully impressive on the mound, too, working into the eighth inning after giving up a home run to his first batter.
Matz became the first player — any position — in franchise history to drive in four runs in his first big league game, including a two-run double off Josh Smith (0-1).
The team’s latest prized pitching prospect, Matz had to wait 3 1/2 extra hours to make his much-anticipated debut because the teams needed 13 innings to first complete Saturday’s game that was suspended by rain. Picking up in the seventh inning, New York won 2-1 with help from two miscues by Reds infielders. Bobby Parnell (1-0) got the win, while Nate Adcock (0-1) took the loss.
The Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the Miami Marlins 2-0 as Zack Greinke pitched 7 2/3 innings for his first victory since May 5.
Greinke (6-2) allowed four hits and held the opposition without a run for his third start in a row, extending his scoreless streak to 20 2/3 innings.
Adrian Gonzalez had three hits, including an RBI double. Howie Kendrick had two hits and drove in a run.
Detroit’s James McCann hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete a dramatic comeback as the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4.
Detroit trailed 4-0 before scoring four runs in the eighth off Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija. Victor Martinez tied it with a three-run double.
In Toronto, Josh Donaldson hit his 18th home run and pitcher Drew Hutchison won his fifth straight decision as the Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 3-2.
Donaldson got two hits as the Blue Jays sent Texas to its eighth loss in 10 games.
Rougned Odor doubled to start the ninth, but Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre flied out before Osuna struck out Mitch Moreland on three pitches.
The Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 after David Ortiz, Pablo Sandoval and Alejandro De Aza homered to back the pitching of Justin Masterson.
The victory clinched a series win for the last-place Red Sox and stopped Chris Archer’s career-best six-game winning streak. Ortiz hit a two-run shot off Archer (9-5) in the fourth inning, the slugger’s 31st career homer at Tropicana Field — more than any visiting player.
Braves pitcher Alex Wood did not concede a run into the eighth inning as Atlanta edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1, while Houston rookie Carlos Correa doubled twice and scored the tiebreaking run on a triple by Evan Gattis in the seventh inning to help the Astros top the New York Yankees 3-1.
In other games, Ryan Braun and Adam Lind hit two-run homers in the eighth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3, the Los Angeles Angels outlasted the Seattle Mariners 3-2 over 10-innings, Washington and Philadelphia split a double header as the Nationals won 3-2 and the Phillies won 8-5 and the San Francisco Giants downed the Colorado Rockies 6-3.
The Baltimore Orioles swept a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians 4-0 and 8-0, the Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics 5-3, the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Diego Padres 6-4 and the St. Louis Cardinals were 4-1 winners over the Chicago Cubs.
Matz dazzles in debut, leads Mets past Reds 7-2



